Foreign property ownership in Thailand operates under specific legal rules, and Phuket's condo market is where most foreign buyers actually transact.
The basic legal shape
Thai law allows foreigners to own condominium units outright (freehold) under specific conditions — most notably that foreign ownership within a single condo building cannot exceed 49% of the total saleable floor area. Foreign land ownership, by contrast, is generally not permitted, which is why condos rather than houses or land are the typical entry point for foreign buyers.
Common alternative structures
For land or villas, foreign buyers often use long-term leasehold arrangements or a Thai company structure — both come with real legal complexity and genuine risk if not set up correctly, and are exactly where things go wrong for buyers who skip proper legal advice.
Why this page stops here
Property law changes, varies by specific building and structure, and carries real financial consequences if got wrong — this page is intentionally a starting orientation, not a substitute for a Thai property lawyer's advice before any purchase.